And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
And seeing a fig tree. (In Matthew 21:19, it is 'one fig tree' х mian (G3391)], but the sense is the same as here, 'a certain fig tree' [= tina (G5100)], as in Matthew 8:19, etc.) Bethphage, which adjoined Bethany, derives its name from its being a fig-region х beeyt (H1004) pagiy (H6291)] - 'House of figs.'
Afar off having leaves - and therefore promising fruit, which in the case of figs comes before the leaves. Afar off having leaves - and therefore promising fruit, which in the case of figs comes before the leaves.
He came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not [yet]. What the precise import of this explanation is, interpreters are not agreed. Perhaps all that is meant is, that as the proper fig season had not arrived, no fruit would have been expected even of this tree but for the leaves which it had, which were in this case prematurely and unnaturally developed.